Kerry Unisex

Popularity: #883 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KER-ee //ˈkɛri//

Origin: Irish; English

Meaning: Irish: 'descendant of Ciardha'; English: 'from the marsh'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Kerry has its roots in the Irish language, derived from the Gaelic word "Ciarraí," which is believed to mean "the people of Ciar." The name Ciar is thought to be derived from the word "ciar," meaning "dark" or "black," which may refer to the dark-haired inhabitants of the region. The name Kerry originally referred to a geographical area in southwestern Ireland, specifically County Kerry, which has been inhabited since ancient times.

The transition of the name into English occurred during the 17th century, as Irish names were anglicized through various historical processes, including colonization and the subsequent integration of Irish culture into English-speaking contexts. Historically, County Kerry has been significant in Irish history and culture, serving as a backdrop for various events and figures.

The area is known for its rich heritage, including connections to early Christian saints and notable historical figures. The name Kerry gained further prominence through its association with the region, which has been celebrated in literature and folklore.

The 17th century saw the establishment of the name in English-speaking countries, and it was often used as both a surname and a given name. Culturally, the name Kerry carries connotations of Irish identity and heritage, often evoking images of the lush landscapes and vibrant traditions of County Kerry.

The name has been embraced in various forms, including as a diminutive or affectionate nickname, though its primary usage remains as a standalone given name. The enduring appeal of Kerry can be attributed to its strong ties to Irish culture and the historical significance of the region it represents, making it a name steeped in both linguistic and cultural history.

Famous people named Kerry

In this section, you will find notable people named Kerry. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Kerry who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Kerry who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Kerry Washington is an actress and producer best known for Scandal, Django Unchained, and Little Fires Everywhere.

Kerry King is a musician best known as the guitarist for Slayer.

Kerry Collins is a former American football quarterback best known for playing with the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants.

Kerry Wood is a former professional baseball pitcher best known for his time with the Chicago Cubs.

Fictional characters named Kerry

The following list of fictional characters named Kerry is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Kerry is a fictional character from the TV series The Office. She is a receptionist who works at the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch and interacts with the main cast throughout the series.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kerry, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

KevinKyleKieranKurtKendallKellan

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kerry. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

CoryTerryGaryJerryBarryLarryDerry

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Kerry was first seen in the United States in 1920.

Kerry has ranked as high as #261 nationally, which occurred in 1960, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Kerry has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Kerry is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Kerry was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Kerry.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 77 55 22
2024 57 49 8
2023 48 35 13
2022 72 55 17
2021 58 42 16
2020 62 39 23
2019 65 43 22
2018 68 51 17
2017 87 57 30
2016 83 53 30
2015 88 62 26
2014 99 62 37
2013 110 71 39
2012 80 53 27
2011 96 61 35
2010 95 65 30
2009 102 70 32
2008 122 85 37
2007 132 87 45
2006 172 99 73
2005 200 120 80
2004 258 172 86
2003 212 112 100
2002 271 130 141
2001 291 142 149
2000 317 135 182
1999 350 150 200
1998 349 150 199
1997 460 188 272
1996 471 181 290
1995 501 206 295
1994 574 235 339
1993 669 296 373
1992 726 288 438
1991 891 414 477
1990 958 402 556
1989 969 409 560
1988 1,020 421 599
1987 1,079 409 670
1986 1,180 481 699
1985 1,197 525 672
1984 1,242 512 730
1983 1,169 383 786
1982 1,355 417 938
1981 1,357 418 939
1980 1,431 431 1,000
1979 1,456 462 994
1978 1,617 463 1,154
1977 1,840 540 1,300
1976 2,031 582 1,449
1975 2,322 646 1,676
1974 2,439 710 1,729
1973 2,555 681 1,874
1972 2,643 733 1,910
1971 3,084 878 2,206
1970 2,798 967 1,831
1969 2,830 976 1,854
1968 2,820 1,085 1,735
1967 2,381 1,123 1,258
1966 2,273 1,241 1,032
1965 2,392 1,471 921
1964 2,740 1,563 1,177
1963 2,887 1,724 1,163
1962 2,992 1,900 1,092
1961 3,067 2,027 1,040
1960 3,127 2,176 951
1959 2,495 1,703 792
1958 2,245 1,439 806
1957 2,560 1,747 813
1956 2,328 1,588 740
1955 2,216 1,601 615
1954 2,244 1,662 582
1953 1,833 1,264 569
1952 1,723 1,167 556
1951 1,674 1,183 491
1950 1,540 1,062 478
1949 1,321 926 395
1948 1,023 750 273
1947 900 704 196
1946 638 489 149
1945 434 310 124
1944 447 297 150
1943 298 211 87
1942 177 135 42
1941 145 120 25
1940 134 112 22
1939 97 87 10
1938 81 70 11
1937 77 65 12
1936 87 79 8
1935 115 110 5
1934 50 44 6
1933 19 19 0
1932 29 22 7
1931 20 20 0
1930 21 21 0
1929 15 15 0
1928 9 9 0
1927 19 14 5
1926 10 10 0
1925 20 14 6
1924 13 13 0
1923 7 7 0
1922 5 5 0
1921 6 6 0
1920 5 0 5

Top States for Kerry (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 8
40%
FL 7
35%
MA 5
25%